We have received a number of enquiries concerning Ofcom's announcement that it plans to auction all radio spectrum in the UK and this statement clarifies NODA's position on this issue. NODA is supporting the campaign being mounted by BEIRG (British Entertainment Industry Radio Group) and is being kept up to date by BEIRG as to developments. The e-petition on the No. 10 website has not been endorsed by BEIRG, and it is not convinced the petition does its campaign any favours. Instead it is lobbying MPs to sign an Early Day Motion. 81 MPs have so far signed the EDM; it needs at least 100 signatures for the government to take notice. NODA therefore advises its members to write to their MP using the template letter that can be found on the PLASA website at http://www.plasa.org/standards/Constituent%20MP%20Letter.doc. You can see the wording of EDM no. 531 and the list of MPs which have signed at http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=32193&SESSION=885

Ofcom's announcement is the result of the transition from analogue to digital TV broadcasting. These changes pose a grave threat to the British entertainment industry as a whole, but especially to the Programme Making and Special Events (PMSE) sector. This sector relies on the unused spectrum that interleaves between current analogue TV broadcasts, to enable the use of radio microphones, in ear devices and other short-range wireless devices. These systems are integral to the production of content for recorded and live entertainment. If the proposed changes to access rights to radio frequency spectrum go ahead, virtually all organisations that rely on radio spectrum for the production of content will be adversely affected.

The PMSE sector – Wireless Microphones, Wireless In-Ear Monitor Systems and Wireless Talk Back Systems - are a fundamental component of the British entertainment industry. This industry is worth a total of £15 billion per annum to the UK and employs in excess of 150,000 people. On a daily basis this sector is responsible for the production of content that has received world-wide acclaim and continues to attract a global audience. A vast array of organisations are reliant on radio spectrum for the production of content for Performing Arts, Broadcasting, News Gathering, Film and Independent Production, Corporate Events, Concerts, Night Venues and Sports Events. In addition, other sectors that utilise the current frequency spectrum, including the Health Service, Education, and Local Government will also be affected.

On the 19th December 2006 Ofcom published the Digital Dividend Review (DDR) (see http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/ddr/) giving 10 weeks to respond. It is essential that during this period there is regular and productive dialogue between Ofcom and the PMSE sector. The main concerns of the PMSE sector have, after considerable effort, been recognised by Ofcom. However while the published DDR makes specific mention to the PMSE sector, and of its relationship to the vacated spectrum, it offers little by way of workable solutions for the PMSE sector. It is therefore very difficult for those most affected, to prepare for their future after the switchover to Digital.

It is now time to construct a practical solution to the unintended consequences of the Digital Dividend. This solution must avert the irreparable damage that the plans to auction spectrum would have on a world-leading industry that depends on this resource for the production of content. However to find this solution, a number of fundamental problems need to be addressed. In the same way that the frequencies used for analogue broadcasting vary geographically across the UK, so too will the frequencies that will be used for digital broadcasting. The DDR appears to be advocating interleaving within this ‘digital’ spectrum as a solution, by putting the PMSE in the ‘white spaces’ that will exist in the ‘patchwork quilt’ that will cover the UK. This shows recognition of the concerns of the PMSE sector. However the PMSE sector requires more details of this option if they are to construct adequately a response to the consultation.

Crucially the consultation paper has also failed to acknowledge sufficiently that as an industry the PMSE sector is disparate and fragmented. This makes bidding for spectrum extremely difficult if not impossible. Answers to these questions are the fundamental starting points for an accurate and realistic response from the PMSE sector. Until more detailed information is provided on these technical issues, it is impossible for the PMSE sector to respond in any meaningful sense to the consultation process.

In order for the PMSE sector to present a fair and objective response to this consultation, these issues must be swiftly addressed with greater transparency and precision by Ofcom. When this occurs a viable solution will be constructed. More meetings are required with Ofcom to provide answers to these questions. It is essential that as a result of this consultation Ofcom can guarantee that sufficient quality and quantity of spectrum be available to prevent the collapse of a renowned and valuable UK industry and provide timely answers to critical questions posed by the PMSE.

For further information visit www.beirg.org.uk

With thanks to PLASA.